Chairs



Sept. 9, 1969 T. A. R. VIRANY 6 CHAIRS Filed Oct. 20, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 2 FIG. 3

IN vEN 70R Sept. 9', 1969 'r. A. R. VIRANY 6 crmms Filed on. 20, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 9 969 T. A. R. VIRANY 3,466,092

CHAIRS Filed Oct. 20, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 /N VENTOR Sept. 9, 1969 Filed 00 20, 1967 CHAIRS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 13

INVFLM TOR L c171 United States Patent 3,466,092 CHAIRS Thomas Alexander Robert Virany, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Filed Oct. 20, 1967, Ser'. No. 676,906 Int. Cl. A47c 7/00 US. Cl. 297-445 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A chair, comprising U-shaped seat and back frames which support soft surfaces, the frames projecting through each other to avoid the bottom of the spinal column.

The embodiments are a knock-down arm-chair assembled by means of slots; a foldable tubular chair; a chair assembled with screws; a U-shaped seat in which the legs of the U are folded back or split with the inner part supporting the surface and making it more resilient in the rear; an arm-chair constructed without any beam between the front legs.

This invention relates to chairs or like furniture and, more specifically, to knock-down and foldable chairs or like furniture.

Throughout the ages, the design of furniture has been determined not only by aesthetic considerations, but by changes in structural knowledge, tools and materials. During this century alone, many new articles of furniture and, specifically, chairs have been designed. Some of the new designs were made possible by the availability of new materials, such as plywood and tubular metal, plastics, better glues and so on.

Many chairs make use of a frame and material stretched between members of the frame to support a human body, sometimes using elastic material. Few, however, have made use of the natural elasticity of a frame in a substantial way. Some chairs have simple seats and backs, most, however, rely for strength on a structural member in the vicinity of the intersection of the seat and back, causing discomfort or requiring substantial padding to prevent discomfort.

Another structural member, used usually to span the front legs of chairs, causes discomfort in the area of the knees, or requires padding to prevent this discomfort.

It is an object of this invention to provide a chair or .the like which presents an elastic seat and an elastic back without the use of springs, using the natural elasticity of a frame.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a chair whose seat and back project through each other in such. a way that their surfaces, when supporting a person, are allowed to sag resiliently and yet present no hard, structural obstruction to a person sitting in the chair.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pair whose front legs need no. structural member spanning the distance between or near them to provide compressive support.

It is-a further object of this invention to provide a chair which can be assembled easily and taken apart easily for storage.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a chair which can be shipped and sold in a narrow package.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a chair which is light.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a chair which can be manufactured cheaply and simply.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification unfolds.

The first embodiment is a chair which ideally may be "Ice made of plywood; the second, of tubular metal; and the third of wood, metal, or plastic. Many of the features, however, are interchangeable and the chairs are adaptable to use any of these materials. Others, such as fibreboard, may also be used.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a chair illustrating the first embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view of the seat of the first embodiment.

FIGURE 3 shows the back of the first embodiment.

FIGURE 4 shows the arms of the first embodiment.

FIGURE 5 shows one of the rear legs of the first embodiment.

FIGURE 6 shows one of the front legs of the first embodiment.

FIGURE 7 shows a detail of the front leg at the point of attachment of the arm.

FIGURE 8 shows a detail of the arm at the point of attachment to the arm.

FIGURE 9 shows an alternative front leg of the first embodiment.

FIGURE 10 shows a side view of the second embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 11 shows a perspective view of the third embodiment.

FIGURE 12 shows a perspective view of a modified seat.

FIGURE 13 shows a side view of a modified form of the second embodiment, to which arms have been added.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the reference numeral 1 refers generally to a chair which, in the embodiment illustrated, comprises a first support means 2, second support means 5, first and second frames 40 and 41 respectively, connecting means 6 and 7 integral with the rear legs, front legs 8 and 9 and arm support means or third support means 10.

The first and second body support means are shaped like the letter U, with bases 42 and 3 corresponding to the bottom of the letter and two legs each, 47, 48 and 43, 49, respectively. These components, however, may be made in a variety of similar or styled shapes, with the legs of the frames either closed or open. Those closed. however, must be bent away from the planes or surfaces in which they lie to prevent discomfort.

Another version of the first embodiment, not illustrated in the drawings but hereby referred to, has the legs of the frames bent away as noted above, the portion extending the seat, for example, bent down to form legs, either joined or not joined to each other. The extensions of the back may be bent away in like manner and either joined or not joined to each other.

The second support means, or back, rests on or above the first support means, or seat, on a shoulder 11 (FIG. 3) in such a way that the base of the seats frame is behind the plane or surface of the back and the top of the base of the backs frame is below the plane or the surface of the seat, thereby clearing the line of their intersection sufficiently to avoid touching an occupant sitting in the chair, allowing even for sagging of an internal support means, or sitting surface, attached to the frames. The shoulder 12 (FIG. 2) determines the location of the back in a front-to-back direction. The surfaces on which the occupant sits and against which he leans are not shown. They may consist of fabric lacing, leather, or any other material that can be used to span the distance between the legs of the frames and lend comfortable support to a person and nothing herein is to be construed as limiting the scope of useful materials.

An arm support means 10 may or may not be included in such a chair. In the first embodiment, it fits around 3 the back by means of a slot 14 (FIG. 4) and rests on a shoulder 13 (FIG. 3) and then engages the front legs determining the legs axial orientation.

The front legs 8 and 9 in the first embodiment support the seat by means of platforms (FIG. 6) and embrace the seat by means of vertical sections 16 and 17, engaging the seat at notches 18 and 19. (FIG. 2) The attachment means of the legs to the arm consists of a hook 20 (FIG. 7) which engages a corresponding hole 22 and plate 21 (FIG. 8) chiselled or otherwise cut in the arms. A dowelled or screwed attachment can also be used, however.

Other front leg designs are foreseen, such as a pair of front legs which project through the seat, supporting the seat on one or two shoulders 23. (FIG. 9)

The rear legs 6 and 7 (FIG. 5) have slots 24 and 25 which respectively support the seat and back and determine, in this embodiment, the angular relation between the seat and back. The bottom of the slot 25 may also replace the top of the seat in giving vertical support to the back.

Slots 26 and 27 in the back (FIG. 3) engage slots 24 and 25 in the rear legs, determining the positions of the rear legs.

The role of the first and second support means, or seat and back may be reversed, by projecting the seat through the back.

Holes may be drilled in the seat and back to accommodate string, rope or lacing, although this may also be accomplished by means of nails, grooves accepting springs or rods. Hooks or eyelets may also be used.

The chair of the first embodiment may be shipped unassernbled, with the seat, back and arm superimposed and the legs tucked between the other parts, thus requiring only a narrow package.

An additional cushion, not shown in the drawings, may be attached to the chair by means of two loops or in some other convenient way.

The invention in its first embodiment may be modified slightly to a rocking chair form. Either the rear legs may be given an extension in the form of rockers and hooked into shortened front legs, or the front legs, either as extensions of the seat, or in separate form can be bent backwards to yield a rocking surface and then be connected to shortened rear legs. A bar may be added to span the distance between the rockers or between the front legs near the floor to prevent torsional failure, al though, if the parts are made sufficiently strong, no bar is required.

Referring now to FIGURE 10 of the drawings in which a second embodiment is shown, that of a folding chair, the chair comprises a seat 28 and back 29, held together pivotally by a pin, screw, or dowel 30. The seat and back of this chair are otherwise similar to those of the first embodiment and can be modified according to the general description of these parts. Front legs 31 are foldably or pivotally connected to the seat, either to the legs of the frame of the seat, or to inward-curving extensions of the legs of the frame of the seat, as shown. The legs are provided with stopping means 52 to determine their angular relationship to the surface of the seat. The attachment may also be made by means of screws, dowels, or hinges. The rear legs 32 may be attached to the seat and back by means of loops 34 bent spirally, or by means of stubs 33, or by means of one of each. If two stubs are used, the axes of the stubs on each side must be strong. If two loops are used, these may be bent to spiral shapes to allow simultaneous engagement of seat and back. All of these joints may be locked in place by means of pegs or dowels, not shown in the drawings. A combination of loop and stub may be used, as shown, and the stub and leg may be curved to allow their engagement with each other. A pin or pins may be used to prevent twisting of the leg. The removability of the rear leg makes it possible to package the chair of this embodiment in a narrow package. Another means, not shown in the drawings, to hold the seat and back in a predetermined angular relationship is a hinged or otherwise collapsible tensile member located between the rear of the seat and the bottom of the back which may be folded in concert with the back and seat, as sides of a quadrilateral. This makes possible a rear leg hinged at or near the ground and pivotally joined to the seat and back.

Referring now to FIGURE 11 of the drawings in which a third embodiment is shown, that of an easily-assemblable knock-down chair, the chair comprises seat 35, back 36, connecting means integral with legs 39 and conventional securing means, such as screws 38. The parts of this structure must be made strong, since the forces at the screws are considerable. Strength is also required to minimize deflection. The seat and back consist of frames as in the first two embodiments, and they support surfaces as in those embodiments. A wide range of materials may be used for all of the parts. Arms or an arm structure as shown in the first embodiment may be added and the specific design of the leg structure 39 may be varied. It may be replaced by separate front and rear legs to support arms, or may be extended to do so. Or, the leg structure shown may be replaced by a rocker-type structure.

The third embodiment particularly shows a chair which is adaptable to be mounted pivotally, on a single leg. This may be done simply by replacing the shown legs by a single bent piece, connecting the seat and back and presenting a horizontal surface below the seat to which a pivoting stork-leg may be attached. Likewise, this embodiment, as are the others, is adaptable to be made into a rocking chair.

A modification is shown in FIGURE 12 which consists of a seat that may be used in conjunction with any of the embodiments of this invention. The seat is in the shape of a letter U, with base 44 and legs 43. The legs are folded inwards and backwards, or cut from the leg, separating the inner leg 46 near the base. The inner leg, however, is attached to the main part of the leg by end portion 54. A hole 45 at the end of the cut may be used to relieve stress concentration. The advantage gained from this modification is that that portion of the seat is most flexible and will sag most which supports most of the weight of the human body supported on the chair, in the vicinity of the back. The inner leg is shown deflected by a load.

Referring now to FIGURE 13 of the drawings in which a modified form of the second embodiment is shown, the chair comprises U-shaped seat 56, U-shaped back 58 pivotally engaged by screw 61, or other fastening means, to the seat; U-shaped arm support 53 pivotally engages the back about screw, bolt, rivet, etc. 57', in the front, the arm and seat are pivotally attached to front legs 55 about screw, etc. 50 and 51. The front legs may be bent from one piece and joined along or near the ground. The rear leg 59 is another variation as noted above with reference to FIG. 10. Here it is shaped to engage the seat by means of a notch, rivet and slot or other similar means and as shown its function is helped by retaining clip 60. The rear legs may be made of one bent piece and joined along the ground. They may pivot about bolt, etc. 57, or, they may pivot about the base of the U-shaped seat and slidingly or in some other detachable way engage the arm or back in the broad vicinity of the pivot 57. This modification of the second embodiment may also be adapted to a rocking chair form, or to that of a couch by lengthening the legs of the seat frame and adding another pair of legs, separately, or integrally. The arms support means, or third body support means, instead of being U-shaped, may consist of two straight members in angle or other suitable shape and connecting the front legs with the back. This, however, requires stronger joints, or front legs joined to each other, to prevent excessive deflection.

The invention has been described in considerable detail. The description, however, is not to be construed as limiting the broad features and principles of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An article of furniture comprising: first and second body support means presenting first and second surface areas respectively, said first and second surface areas lying in first and second surfaces respectively, said surfaces intersecting substantially within respective portions of both of said surfaces in which said surface areas lie; and first support means being vertically spaced from a furniture-supporting surface and said second support means being angularly disposed by connecting means to said first support means in a position removed from said furniture-supporting surface; said article also comprising leg means; each one of said support means comprising a frame and an internal support means held by said frames; each of said frames comprising a base and a leg at each end of said base; said surfaces intersecting in such a way that both of said bases of said frames of said first and second support means fall respectively behind and below the other of said surfaces sutficiently to avoid touching an occupant seated in said article of furniture and causing said internal support means to sag.

2. The article of furniture as claimed in claim 1, also having arm support means.

3. The article of furniture as claimed in claim 2, in which said leg means consist of front and rear leg means; and in which said arm support means and said second support means are interengaged, said arm support means and said first support means being engaged by said front leg means, the arm and first support means being vertically spaced from each other.

4. The article of furniture as claimed in claim 3, in which said arm support means comprises a base and a leg at each end of said base, said base lying sufiiciently behind said second surface to avoid touching an occupant leaning against said internal support means of said second support means and causing it to sag.

5. The article of funriture as claimed in claim 1, in which said first and second support means are pivotally engaged.

6. The article of furniture as claimed in claim 5, in which said connecting means pivot about at least one of said first or second support means.

7. The article of furniture as claimed in claim 5, in which said connecting means are in sliding engagement with at least one of said first or second support means, by means of a projecting stub.

8. The article of furniture as claimed in claim 5, in which said leg means consist of front and rear leg means; also comprising arm support means, said arm support means pivotally engaging said second support means, said first support means and said arm support means both pivotally engaging said front leg means; said rear leg means detachably engaging at least one of said second support means and said arm support means, and when so engaging only one, then pivotally engaging the other.

9. The article of furniture as claimed in claim 8, in which said arm support means comprise a base and a leg at each end of said base, said base lying sufficiently behind said second surface to avoid touching an occupant leaning against said internal support means of said second support means and causing it to sag.

10. The article of furniture as claimed in claim 1, in which said connecting means are integral with said leg means.

11. The article of furniture as claimed in claim 4, which is assembled by means of frictional and gravitational interlocks.

12. The article of furniture as claimed in claim 1, also comprising resilient cantilever members substantially parallel to said frame legs, each of said cantilever members attached at one end thereof to an adjacent of said legs ends remote from said base, the other ends of said cantilever members left free from attachment to said legs and left free to deflect under a load.

13. A support frame in a chair or like article of furniture, comprising a base and a leg at each end of said base; and resilient cantilever members substantially parallel to said frame legs, each of said cantilever members attached at one end thereof to an adjacent of said legs ends remote from said base, the other ends of said cantilever members left free from attachment to said legs and left free to deflect under a load.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,486,987 11/1949 Scarlett 297442 2,615,505 10/1952 Friedlander 297-443 3,124,390 3/1964 Eames et a1. 297458 3,222,108 12/1965 Pablos 297457 X CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 297418, 442 

